Saturday, March 01, 2008

Marquette tenders two more from Michigan

The Marquette Rangers have tendered two more players for the 2008-09 NAHL season, bringing the number of draft-protected players to seven for the North Division club.

The Rangers have added forward Kent Daavettila, who is currently playing Midget AAA for Detroit Compuware of the Midwest Elite Hockey League. Scouting reports show the 6-foot, 180-pound winger is strong at crashing the net with the ability to score having registered 65 points so far this year on 27 goals and 38 assists.

Marquette also tendered goaltender Robert Tadazak, who stands 6-foot-2, 165 pounds and is currently playing for the Flint Jr. Generals of the Central States Hockey League. Tadazak is tied for first in the CSHL in shutouts, is second in the CSHL in save percentage (.930) and third amongst goaltenders in both goals-against average (2.38) and wins (20).

“These two players really compliment both the players we’ve already signed to tenders, as well as the guys we’re hoping to have back from this year's team,” Rangers head coach Randy Enders said. “Both guys are big and strong and have been leaders for their current teams. I think both can make a significant impact next year in our league.”

Signing a player to a tender is a team's way of protecting that player from being drafted by another team in May's NAHL draft. It’s also a signal to that player that the team is confident in his abilities and his chances of making the final roster.

“It’s kind of like the early signing period in college sports,” said Enders. “We’re telling these guys that we think they’re good enough to be a part of next year's team, and we’re also telling them we’re willing to back that confidence up by putting it in writing.

“There are no guarantees. Each guy we sign still has to come to tryout camp and win a position on next year's team, but with the talent we’ve signed so far, I don’t think that will be much of an issue as we have now signed seven very strong players.”

Daavettila and Tadazak join five other players already tendered by the club in January.

The Rangers will be holding three tryout camps later this spring in Marquette, Detroit and Stevens Point, Wis., before holding their final camp in Marquette in July.